Hand Connection

Hand Connection: Partnering Dance Technique. The ways the hands of the Leader and the Follower connect to each other while they dance together (Partnering). There are 4 Basic Hand Connections. 1. Pressure Hand Connection: the Leader puts pressure on the fingers of the Follower with his own fingers. The Follower matches the amount of pressure the Leader gives to maintain contact.

The connecting fingers can be used as: a. "Turning Disks": one of the dancers turns or spins, and at the same time glides with the fingers against the fingers of the other dancer who's keeping the fingers still for support or for guiding these turns or spins. b. 'Plates' or 'Pancakes': the hands press against each other for maintaining pressure for leading and for following. 2. Carrying Hand Connection: the Leader or the Follower has the wrist bend in such a way that the hand is at 90 degrees with the lower arm and with the palm of the hand pointing up.

Example: Mambo O, L-R "Pizza" or "Waiter" LRT. 3. Finger(s) Hook(ed) or "Push & Pull" Hand Connection. The finger(s) of the Leader hook around the finger(s) of the Follower. There are 2 ways of using the Hook: a. The Leader has his palm down with the hooking finger(s) down and pointing to himself. The Follower has her finger(s) wrapped around this hook with her palm of her hand to the Leader and her thumb down. This hook is ideal to make the Follower start turning or spinning with her leading hand going first to her turning axis. Example: Mambo O, R-L "2 finger Hook" 2 Followers Right Spins (2FRS). b. The Leader has his palm up and the Follower hooks with her 4 fingers (wrist down!) on his 4 fingers pointing to the centre. This Hand Connection is used when the Leader wants to start e.g. an Enchufe (see "Enchuf[e][la]"), a Copa (see "Copa") or an Open Break (see "Open Break").

The Leader can also choose to hook onto the fingers of the Follower with 1 finger (his index finger or his ring finger: the so called "One Finger Hook"). 4. Grabbing Hand or/and wrist Connection. This type of Hand Connection is mostly used in "Cuban Casino", the Colombian "Boogaloo", and the South American "salsa Estilo Callejero". There are 3 ways to grab hands: a. The Leader grabs and holds the Follower's hand with his hand (palm(s) up) and he has his thumb(s) on the back of her hand(s).

Example: L-R 1/2 Enchufe. b. The Leader grabs the hands of the Follower with his palms up. Example: Back Breaks in an Open Dance Position (Colombian Salsa, Boogaloo Dancing). c. The Leader grabs the right hand of the Follower with his left hand while dancing in Closed Dance Position. This way of holding the hand is typical for Non Western Style Salsa dancing.